Receptacle



y 19, 1954 H. F. LUl 3,133,690

RECEPTACLE Filed June 18, 1962 ALFRED HFLU/ INVENTOR ATTORNEY ,sensitive adhesive means.

United States Patent 7 3,133,690 RECEPTACLE Alfred H. F. Lui, Wayne County General Hospital,

Eloise, Mich. Filed June 18, 1962, Ser. No. 203,291 4 Claims. ((11.229-53) The present invention relates to receptacles and more particularly to an easily attachable, disposable bag-like receptacle which will remain in a closed position when not in use. i

Presently, many receptacles or disposable bags are available which may be readily attached to instrument panels of automobiles or to tables and beds in hospitals to facilitate the accumulation and disposal of refuse.

To difficulties currently encountered with disposable bags are that they do not remain closed while refuse is being accumulated therein. In patients rooms or in operating rooms of hospitals, the disposable bags may be used to accumulate surgical dressings contaminated with blood, pus or body discharges before the bags are collected and destroyed. Odors escape from the open bags to the annoyance of the patients, visitors, and medical personnel. Also the contamination of bedding, clothing and medical supplies by the contents of the receptacle is a serious hazard.

-Thebag-like receptacle embodying this invention'minimizes these hazards. The receptacle of this invention comprisesapair of opposing walls which are connected byfoldable side walls. The walls define a filling opening at the top. An adhesive means is provided for mounting .the receptacle to a surface. In addition, an elastic means adjacent the filling opening is incorporated 'in the baglike receptacle to maintain the latter in a normally-closed position when mounted-to the'surface. r

In a preferred embodiment-of this invention, a disposable bag-like receptacle is formed from an impervious material such as polyethylene for instance. The receptacle Patented May 19, 1964 ice its filling opening to maintain the receptacle in a normally closed position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, sanitary receptacle which can be readily mounted when empty and easily disposed of after it is filled with refuse. 7

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following description particularly when considered in connection with the ac-' companying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a bag-like receptacle embodying this invention and illustrating the receptacle in its normally closed position and mounted on a vertically extending surface.

. FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1 but depicting the receptacle filled with refuse.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the receptacle of FIGURE 1 but in an opened position, and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bag- I like receptacle of a second embodiment of this invention attached to a horizontal surface and shown in an opened position.

Referring now to the drawings, especially to FIGURE 1, there is seen a bag-like receptacle, generally designated as 11, which is mounted from a vertical surface 12 such as a side of a table top or a motor vehicle instrument panel. The receptacle 11, which may be fabricated from a transparant polyethylene material, comprises a front Wall 13 and a back wall 14. The back wall 14 has a top portion 15 that extends beyond the top edge of the comprises a front wall, a back wall having a top portion extending beyond the top edge ofthe front wall, and two vided with a filling opening intermediate the top'edge of the front wall and the front surface of the back Wall. The portion of the back wall extending beyond the top edge of the front wall is affixed to a peelable pressure- The adhesive means extends above the back Wall and beyond the side edges of the receptacle. An elastic, resilient band is provided which extends across the front surface of the front wall adjacent the filling opening. The end segments of the band are retained by the pressure-sensitive adhesive means. When the receptacle and the end segments of the elastic band are mounted to a surface by the pressure-sensitive adhesive means, the filling opening is maintained in a closed position by the elastic band. A tab' is provided at the top and in the center of the front wall to permit opening the receptacle in order to dispose refusetherein.

It can be seen that the bag-like receptacle of this invention provides asanitary, means to accumulate refuse prior to itsdestruction.

Further, the receptacle may be readily attached to a i When the bag-like receptacle is ready for disfront wall 13. The sides of the back wall 14 and front wall 13 are connected by foldable side walls 16 as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. A filling opening 17 is provided between the back wall 14 and the top edges of the sidewalls 16 and the front wall 13. The remaining edges of the walls are sealed tightly to form the bag-like receptacle 11 which is leakproof. V

An adhesive means 18, such as a peelable pressure sensitive adhesive tape with an adhesive coating 19 on one surface, is utilized to mount the receptacle 11 to the surface'12 as best seen in FIGURE 2. The front surface of the top portion 15 of the back wall 14 is attached to a portion of the adhesive means 18 prior'to mounting the receptacle 11. The adhesive means 18 extends beyond each side edge and the top edge of the top portion 15. The adhesive means 18 on each side also extends downwardly to form the elastic band retaining portions 20 which may be detached from the remaining adhesive means 18 along perforations 21 or may already be supplied in adetached condition. At times, separate elastic band retaining portions 20 may be utilized. Tabs 22 facilitate the detachment of the retaining portions 20 or assist in peeling off backing material usually covering the adhesive coating 19 of the adhesive means 18.

An elastic means such as an elastic, resilient band 23 is provided with each end segment 24 of the latter being retained firmly by the elastic band retaining portions 24) against the surface 12 on each side of the receptacle 11. The band 23 is in a normal taut condition when being retained against the surface 12. A center segment 25 ,of the elastic band 23 intermediate its end segments 24 a u) that refuse 27 can be disposed therein, one pulls a tab 28 outwardly, thereby exposing the filling opening 17 as seen in FIGURE 3. The tab 28, which may also be used to retain the center segment 25 adjacent the filling opening 17, replaces or augments the seam 26. Upon release of the tab 28, the receptacle Ill will shut tightly as the elastic band 23 returns to its normal taut position to close the filling opening 17.

In FIGURE 4 is seen a bag-like receptacle of a second embodiment of this invention, generally designated as 29. In the second embodiment, like numerals are applied to like parts as described in the first embodiment and illustrated in FIGURES 1-3.

In the second embodiment as seen in FIGURE 4, an adhesive means 31 is adhesively affixed to a horizontal surface 32 to mount the top portion 15 of the back wall 14 and the end segments 24 of the elastic band 23. In this embodiment, no elastic band retaining portions 29 are required as the end segments 24 may be directly secured to the surface 32 by the adhesive means 31 which extends beyond the top edge and the side edges of the back wall 14. The receptacle 29 is more economical to manufacture and also is more versatile for mounting purposes. Quite frequently, no vertical mounting surface is available as a thin horizontal surface, such as a table top, may extend a substantial distance above its supporting base.

It can be seen that the bag-like receptacles 11, 29 of this invention are easily attachable to either a horizontal or vertical surface. Further, the elastic band 23 coacting with the front wall 13 maintains the filling opening 17 in a closed position when the receptacle is not in the process of being filled. This minimizes odors and bacteria for instance from enamating from the refuse which is being accumulated for disposal in the receptacles. Also the end segments 24 of the elastic band 23 can be retained by the adhesive means 18, 31 directly or by separate or detachable adhesively mounted elastic band retaining portions 20.

An important use of the receptacles 11, 29 of this invention is in operating rooms of hospitals to store blood soaked sponges. Evaporation of the blood from the sponges prior to weighing the latter is prevented, thereby permitting more accurate calculation of the blood loss sustained by the surgical patient.

Also the receptacles 11, 29 can be readily maintained in a closed position when the adhesive means 18, 31 is removed from the surface in order to dispose of the filled receptacles.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments of this invention Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bag-like receptacle adaptable to be mounted to a surface comprising a front wall, a back wall, foldable side walls connecting said front wall and said back wall, said Walls defining a filling opening at the top of said receptacle, pressure-sensitive adhesive means having a first part affixed to a portion of said back Wall and a second part extending beyond the edges of said back wall to mount said receptacle to said surface, an elastic band having two end segments and a center segment, said center segment extending across the front wall adjacent said filling opening, a portion of said second part of the pressure-sensitive adhesive means retaining one end segment of said elastic band on said surface, another portion of said second part of the pressure-sensitive adhesive means retaining the other end segment of said elastic band on said surface, and a tab aflixed to said front wall adjacent said filling opening, said tab at least partially encompassing a portion of said center segment of the elastic band, said center segment of the elastic band maintaining said filling opening in a normally closed position when said backwall and said end segments of the elastic band are adhesively mounted to said surface.

2. A bag-like receptacle adaptable to be mounted to a surface comprising a front wall, a back wall, expansible side Walls connecting said front wall and said back Wall, said walls defining a filling opening at the top of said receptacle, pressure-sensitive adhesive means having a first part afiixed to a portion of said back wall and a second part extending beyond the edges of said back Wall to mount said receptacle to said surface, an elastic band having two end segments and a center segment, said center segment extending across the front wall adjacent said filling opening, a portion of said second part of the pressure-sensitive adhesive means retaining one end segment of said elastic band on said surface, another portion of said second part of the pressure-sensitive adhesive means retaining the other end segment of said elastic band on said surface, and a tab means allixed to said front Wall adjacent said filling opening and movable in an outward direction away from said back wall said center segment of the elastic band maintaining said filling opening in a normally closed position when said back wall and said end segments of the elastic band are adhesively mounted to and retained on said surface by said first and second parts of said pressure-sensitive adhesive means, said tab means when moved outwardly opening said filling opening from its normally closed position.

3. The bag-like receptacle as described in claim 2 and which is further characterized in that said center segment of the elastic band is coupled to the front wall.

4. A bag-like receptacle adaptable to be mounted to a surface comprising a front wall, a back wall having a portion extending beyond the top edge of said front wall, expansible side walls connecting said front wall and said back wall, a filling opening intermediate the back wall and the top edge of said front wall, said receptacle being sealed at the bottom edges of said walls, pressure-sensitive adhesive means affixed in part to said portion of the back wall extending beyond the top edge of the front wall, other parts of said adhesive means extending beyond each side edge and above the top edge of said portion of the back wall to mount said receptacle to said surface, an elastic band having two end segments and a center segment, said center segment extending across the front wall adjacent said filling opening, said parts of the adhesive means extending beyond each side edge of said portion of the back wall adhesively retaining the respective end segments of said elastic band on said surface, and a tab affixed to said front wall adjacent said filling opening and movable in an outward direction away from said back wall, said tab at least partially encompassing a portion of said center segment of the elastic band, said center segment of the elastic band maintaining said filling opening in a normally closed position when said portion of the back Wall and said end segments of the elastic band are adhesively mounted'to and retained on said surface by said adhesive means, said tab when moved outwardly opening said filling opening from its normally closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,400,406 Godoy -5 May 14, 1946 2,755,576 Golden July 24, 1956 2,894,675 Stein July 14, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 559,495 Belgium Aug. 14, 1957 

1. A BAG-LIKE RECEPTACLE ADAPTABLE TO BE MOUNTED TO A SURFACE COMPRISING A FRONT WALL, A BACK WALL, FOLDABLE SIDE WALLS CONNECTING SAID FRONT WALL AND SAID BACK WALL, SAID WALLS DEFINING A FILLING OPENING AT THE TOP OF SAID RECEPTACLE, PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE MEANS HAVING A FIRST PART AFFIXED TO A PORTION OF SAID BACK WALL AND A SECOND PART EXTENDING BEYOND THE EDGES OF SAID BACK WALL TO MOUNT SAID RECEPTACLE TO SAID SURFACE, AN ELASTIC BAND HAVING TWO END SEGMENTS AND A CENTER SEGEMENT, SAID CENTER SEGMENT EXTENDING ACROSS THE F RONT WALL ADJACENT SAID FILLING OPENING, A PORTION OF SAID SECOND PART OF THE PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE MEANS RETAINING ONE END SEGMENT OF SAID ELASTIC BAND ON SAID SURFACE, ANOTHER PORTION OF SAID SECOND PART OF THE PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE MEANS RETAINING THE OTHER END SEGMENT OF SAID ELASTIC BAND ON SAID SURFACE, AND A TAB AFFIXED TO SAID FRONT WALL ADJACENT SAID FILLING OPENING, SAID TAB AT LEAST PARTIALLY ENCOMPASSING A PORTION OF SAID CENTER SEGEENT OF THE ELASTIC BAND, SAID CENTER SEGEMENT OF THE ELASTIC BAND MAINTAINING SAID FILLING OPENING IN A NORMALLY CLOSED POSITION WHEN SAID BACKWALL AND SAID END SEGMENTS OF THE ELASTIC BAND ARE ADHESIVELY MOUNTED TO SAID SURFACE. 